A Filipino couple who lost their long fight against a deportation order have decided to leave their 13-year-old Japan-born daughter behind when they return to the Philippines in April, their lawyer said March 13.

Sarah Calderon and daughter Noriko conveyed the decision in a March 13 meeting with immigration authorities, their lawyer, Shogo Watanabe, said.

Sarah and husband Arlan were granted a provisional release until April 13 to attend the April 8 opening ceremony at Noriko's junior high school, where their daughter is starting her second year, Watanabe said. The couple will be deported the day the release expires.

The Immigration Bureau will issue Noriko a special residency permit sometime this month, Watanabe said. Sarah's sister, who is married to a Japanese national and lives in Kita Ward, Tokyo, will move to Warabi, Saitama Prefecture, to care for her, he added.